AMATEUR COACHMEN. 321 



Cotton, one of our oldest baronets, now drives the 

 *Age,' having purchased it of Mr. Willan, who 

 drove it, and who now drives the ' Magnet ' on the 

 same road." 



When the old coaches were taken off the roads, 

 and railroads were established, the fancy for driving 

 four horses appeared evidently on the decline ; in fact, 

 before this it occupied much attention amongst the 

 best classes of society. 



Nimrod says : " Taken in moderation, we can see 

 no reason to condemn this branch of sport more than 

 any other. Even in ancient days the Athenians, the 

 most polished nation of all antiquity, deemed it an 

 honour to be considered skilful charioteers. Why, 

 then, should Englishmen consider it a disgrace } 

 To be serious, our amateur or gentlemen coachmen 

 have done much good. The road would never have 

 been what it now is, but for the encouragement they 

 gave, by their notice and support, to all persons 

 connected with it. Would the Holyhead road have 

 been what it is, had there been no such persons as the 

 Hon. Thomas Kenyon, Sir Henry Parnell, and Mr. 

 Maddox ? Would the Oxford coachmen have set so 

 good an example as they have done to their brethren 

 of 'the bench,' had there been no such men on their 

 road as Sir Henry Peyton, Lord Clonmell, the late 

 Sir Thomas Mostyn, that Nestor of coachmen, Mr. 

 Annesley, and the late Mr. Harrison, of Shelswell? 

 What would the Devonshire road have been, but for 

 the late Sir Charles Bamfylde, Sir John Rogers, 

 Colonel Prowse, Sir Lawrence Palk, and others } 

 Have the advice and the practice of such experienced 

 men as Mr. Charles Buxton, Mr. Henry Villebois, Mr. 

 Okeover, Sir Bellingham Graham, Mr. John Walker. 

 Lord Sefton, Sir Felix Agar, Mr. Ackers, Mr. Maxse, 



